Download: Water Missions Concept Paper
PROBLEM: According to the United Nations World Water Assessment Program, 80 percent of all illnesses in developing nations are caused by water-borne diseases, and diarrhea is the leading cause of childhood deaths. Many people live in remote villages and drink from rivers, ponds, wells, and streams that are contaminated with deadly bacteria. Because of their poverty and poor quality of life, they have never had the privilege of safe drinking water or good sanitation. Research has verified that water-, sanitation-, and hygiene-related diseases account for more than two million deaths annually, mostly children. Providing clean water to populations that currently lack it could reduce the spread of many diseases and save many lives.
SOLUTION: Water Missions International (WMI) is a 501c3 non-profit engineering organization based in Charleston, SC. Its purpose is to provide fresh, safe water purification equipment and hygiene support to high-priority, impoverished, remote villages in developing nations. WMI has been awarded a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for four consecutive years, an award that only ten percent of all charities have obtained consistently. This shows that WMI’s financial systems are well-managed and most funds are put toward helping the needy (as opposed to administrative costs).
WMI has developed a 1700-pound water machine that costs about $25,000 to build and deliver (this amount includes equipment, delivery by truck once it is flown into the recipient country, one year’s worth of supplies, and maintenance tools). A single machine can purify 10,000 gallons of water per day, supporting a village of 5,000 people with a cost to operate of about 50 cents per person each year. A $10 donation will provide safe water to one person for his or her lifetime!
Each water machine takes about two hours to set up and is transported to the village by volunteers and staff from WMI. Then, WMI ensures that the machines are functioning properly and that community members are educated in using and maintaining them. WMI has placed water purification machines in 40 countries and has been featured on BBC News, CNN’s American Morning, and Fox News. For more information, visit www.watermissions.org.
GOAL:We want to create a well-attended, enjoyable event to raise at least $50,000 (after expenses) to pay for two machines, which will provide safe water to 5,000 poor Honduran villagers and save many lives, mostly children’s, annually.
PLAN:We will hold a fun-filled night to include: a band with shag/beach music for dancing; excellent food and drink; silent auction between 6:30-9:00 PM; live auction at 9 PM; and a brief presentation on Water Missions during the band’s break. A water machine will be set up outside the facility for participants to see during the event.
Location: Debra and Mike DuBose will donate the use of their 40,000-square-foot Columbia Conference Center for the event and coordinate the marketing. The facility is located in Columbia, SC off of Fernandina Road between Piney Grove and St. Andrews roads. For more information, visit www.columbiameetings.com.
Date:We will hold the event on the evening of Saturday, November 13, 2010. The business attire/black tie optional event will run from 6:30-10:30 PM. The date was chosen based on availability of the Columbia Conference Center, the fact that USC and Clemson both have “away” football games, and because inclement/winter weather will be less likely in early November.
Participant Costs: Each person will pay $50 ($100 per couple) in advance. Door tickets will be $75 per person or $125 per couple. Participants will be able to register online at a specially-designed WMI Website accessed through www.mikedubose.com or purchase tickets sold by volunteers. We want to sell at least 300 tickets to generate at least $15,000 in ticket revenue. We will also accept donations in addition to the ticket sales, which will be tax-deductible through Water Missions International.
Blake DuBose and his staff at DuBose Web Group (www.duboseweb.com) will design and coordinate the marketing and website or the event free of charge. Corporate sponsors will receive the benefits located on the following page. Doris and Jeff Warren of the Warren Group will serve as the Gala’s central administrative unit.
